Bait-box.



m, 644,773. Patented Mar. 6, I900.

H. LEVI. BAIT BOX.

. (Application filed Aug. 17, 1899.) (No Modei. 2 Sheots$heet l.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY LEVI, OF CHICAGQ'ILLINOIS.

BAIT-BOX.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 644,773, dated March 6, 1900. Application filed August 17, 1899. filerial No. 727.575. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HENRY LEVI, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented an Improved Box, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to boxes, and relates particularly to boxes designed and adapted for containing fishing-bait,particularly frogs.

A primary object of the invention is to pro videa bait-box which may be folded into a comparatively-sinall space when not in use for convenience in carrying.

A bait-box of my invention comprises the various features, combinations of features, and details of construction hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings a bait-box of my invention is fully illustrated.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a bait-box of my invention ready for use. Fig. 2 is a central transverse vertical section of said box. Fig. 3 is an enlarged View of a part of the back of the box, showing the hook which secures the free edge of the end of the box and the back of the box together. Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view of the box on the line 4 4 of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is an enlarged view of a portion of the inner side of the front wall of the box, showing the hook which secures the top to the front of the box; and Fig. (5 is a perspective view of the box in folded position, showing a sectional view of the same.

Referring now to the drawings, A designates the bottom of the box; A A the front and rear walls or sides thereof, respectively; A the ends, and A the top or cover.

In the preferable construction shown the bottom A consists of a shallow water-tight box or pan made of tin or other suitable material.

The sides, ends, and top of the box are preferably made of pieces of woven wire of suitable size and shape reinforced and strengthened by strips a of tin secured to the edges thereof. My invention, however, contemplates the use of any other suitable material, as perforated tin or the like.

The front and rear sides A A of the box are hinged to the bottom A thereof and are adapted to fold inwardly upon each other. In the preferable construction shown said sides A A are hinged within and below the top of the box or pan which forms the bottom A, so that when folded one upon the other they will be entirely within said box.

The ends A of the box are hinged to the front side A of the box and are adapted to fold upon the same, so as to be folded into the bottom A with said front side A of the box.

The top A of the box is hinged to the free edge of the rear side A of the box and is adapted to be folded into the bottom A therewith.

The free edges of the ends A of the box are adapted to be seen red to the lateral edges of the rear side A of the box, thus securing all of the sides of said box in unfolded position. Asshown, projections a are formed on the free edges of the ends A which are adapted to engage holes or openings a in the rear wall A and said projectionsa' are adapt ed to be secured in said holes by means of hooks a which are adapted to engage suitable holes or openings in said projections a. In the preferable construction shown the top or cover A" com prises a section A which may be raised independently of the main section of said cover and which is sufficiently large to permit the insertion of the hand into the box when raised, thus giving access to the interior of the box without raising the whole cover. This feature is of especial value when said box contains frogs. r

The cover proper, A is adapted to be secured in closed position by means of a hook a on the side A of the box which engages an eye a on the cover, and the section A of the cover is adapted to be secured in closed position by means of a hasp a. The hook a and eye a are preferably in such position that they will be on the interior of the box and will be accessible only through the sec tion A of the cover. Nith this construction it is obvious thatthe hook or being engaged with the ring a access to the box may be pre vented by means of a single lock applied to the section A For convenience in carrying the box it is provided with a handle A secured to the top thereof and adapted to fold down flat thereupon.

As preferably constructed, also, my improved bait-box comprises a tray or partition A which divides said box into upper and lower compartments. In the preferable construction shown said tray or partition A comprises two sections hinged together and supported in such manner that the section a thereof may be raised when desired, and the width of said section a is substantially equal to the distance of said tray below the top of the box. It is thus obvious that when said section a of said tray or partition is raised the space in the rear thereof will be entirely in closed. As shown, also, said tray or partition A is secured in position in the following manner: The ends of the rear section of said tray engage grooves formed in cleats'a secured to the ends A of the box, and the front section a of said tray or partition rests upon ledges or shoulders on said cleats, said ledges or shoulders forming continuations of the lower sides of the grooves in which the rear section of said tray or partition is secured. The tray or partition A practically doubles the capacity of the box, or the box A, forming the bottom of the box proper, being water-tight, minnows may be carried therein, while-frogs may be carried in the upper compartment of said box.

Access may be had to the upper com partment of myimproved box by raising the section A? of the cover and to the lower compartment by raising both said section A and the section a of the tray A I Among the advantages of a box of my invention may be enumerated the following: It is adapted to contain different kinds of live bait, as frogs and minnows, and to preserve both kinds alive and fresh. The bait being exposed at all times, it is possible to select the kind desired as to size and color.

I claim- 1. A box comprising a pan or box which forms the bottom of said box proper, front and rear sides hinged within and below the top of said pan or box and adapted to fold inwardly within said box, ends hinged to the lateral edges of one of said sides and adapted to fold withinsaid box with said sides, means to secure the free edges of said ends to the lateral edges of the opposite side of said box and a cover for said box, substantially as described.

2. A box comprising front and rearsides hinged to the bottom of the box and adapted to fold one upon the other, ends hinged to the lateral edges of a side of said box, means to secure the free edges of said ends to the lateral edges of the opposite side, a cover for said box, means to secure said top or cover in position and a tray or partition in said box which divides the same into upper and lower compartments, said tray or partition comprising a hinged section which affords access to the lower compartment of said box, substantially as described.

3. A box comprising a box or pan, which forms the bottom of the box proper, front and rear sides hinged within and below the top of said box or pan, ends hinged to the lateral edges of a side of said box, means tosecure the free edges of said ends to the lateral edges of the opposite side of said box, a cover for said box, said top or cover comprising a section which may be raised independently of the rest, and a tray or partitionwithin said box which divides the same into upperan (1 lower compartments, said tray or partition comprising a hinged section which affords access to the lower compartment of said box, substantially as described.

4. A box comprising a lower bottom portion forming a box orpan and an upper portion having open-work walls or sides, a cover for said box, means to secure said cover upon said box, a tray or partition within said box, which divides the same into upper and lower compartments, said tray comprising a hinged section which affords access to the lower compartment, substantially as described.

5. A box comprising a box or pan which forms the bottom of the box proper, hinged sides and ends which are adapted to fold inwardly within said box, one upon another, means to secure adjacent free edges of said sides and ends to each other, a cover for said box and means to secure said cover upon said box, substantially as described.

6. The combination with a box of a cover therefor, said covercomprisin g sections which may be raised independently of each other, means located within the box to secure all but a single section of said cover in closed position and means accessible from the exterior of the box for locking the remaining section, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have hereunto set my hand this 3d day of August, 1899.

HENRY LEVI.

Witnesses:

J. H. FEAURBACH, BYRON B. CARTER. 

